How to Draw Names for Secret Santa From a Hat
Type the names of everyone in the gift exchange, print a page of name slips, then cut, fold and draw them from a hat or bowl.
3 min read
To draw names for Secret Santa, open the secret santa name slip generator and type each name in a "Participant" field. Click "Print Draw Lots Page", then cut out the slips, fold them and put them in a hat. Each person draws one slip and buys a gift for that name. The page is made in your browser, and the names are not sent anywhere.
The generator makes paper slips for a draw in person, such as at an office party or a family dinner. It never shows who drew whom, so the person who prints the slips can take part too.
How to make the name slips
- Type the first two names in the two "Participant" fields.
- Click "Add Participant" for each other person and type the name.
- Pick "Festive" or "Black & White" under "Decorative Style".
- Check the preview. It changes as you type.
- Click "Print Draw Lots Page". The page opens in a new tab with the print dialog.
Empty fields are left off the page. The trash button removes a row, but the list always keeps two rows. The print and download buttons stay off until two names are filled in. With only one name, you see "You need at least 2 participants for Secret Santa".
To print later or on another computer, click "Download as HTML". It saves secret-santa-draw-lots.html. Open the file in a browser and print it from there.
How to change the slip size
| Field | Range | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Slip Width (mm) | 30 to 90 | 60 |
| Slip Height (mm) | 15 to 50 | 25 |
| Font Size (pt) | 10 to 24 | 14 |
The page is A4 (210 × 297 mm). The "Page Size" field shows it, and it cannot be changed. Dotted cut lines are always drawn around each slip.
Each name stays on one line. A long name, such as a full first and last name, is cut off and ends with three dots. Make the slips wider, lower the font size, or use first names only. The preview shows the same page that prints, so check every slip there.
Two people with the same first name get two slips that look the same. Add a last initial, such as Sofia R. and Sofia M.
How to run the draw
- Cut along the dotted lines around each slip.
- Fold each slip so the name is hidden.
- Put all the slips in a hat or bowl and mix them.
- Let each person draw one slip and keep the name secret.
If someone draws their own name, they draw a new slip and then put their own name back. If the last person gets their own name, put all the slips back and draw again.
Type the names, check every slip in the preview, and print the page before the party.
Ready to try it yourself?
Secret Santa Name Slip Generator
Make printable Secret Santa name slips. Type the names, print the page, cut out the slips and draw names from a hat at parties and gift exchanges.